REUSABLE SANITARY PADS

In Tanzania, many women and young girls rely on old, unsanitary cloth, dirt, corn husks and cobs, and other natural materials as protection during menstruation. Some women even dry their make-shift pads under their mattresses to avoid public humiliation. Naturally, these practices lead to serious fungal and bacterial infections. Not only do these diseases prevent them from work, but they also lead to serious medical expenses and reproductive health issues.

When women in Tanzania are unable to receive an education and work, they are more likely to be victims of domestic violence, rape, and discrimination. On the flip side, when a woman is educated and makes her own money, she is more likely to gain the respect of her family, husband, and community. Additionally, an educated woman knows her rights and can help other women in her community avoid becoming victims of heinous acts as well.

On (insert date) the Dare Women's Foundation began distributing a small amount of reusable, antimicrobial, microfiber pads. Since then, team members have developed a pad pattern for DWF that teaches women how to easily make sanitary pads with wings for comfort and protection during school, work, and daily activities. These women will be able to use these pads themselves, and they will also be able to make and sell pads as a community with the sewing machines and supplies provided by the Dare Women's Foundation. While the focus of this endeavor is to provide feminine hygiene care to women in Tanzania and help women start a small business, it also brings a community of women together to create a better future for themselves.

The pad pattern is simple, and includes two large oval shapes and two smaller rectangles. In this design, it is easy to add more or less rectangles on the inside of the pad depending on the woman's preference. The pattern also ensures that the maximum amount of fabric is used with little to no waste. We have also included facts about feminine hygiene on the pattern that include reproductive health and puberty information. (insert pad pattern)

The pad manual comes in Swahili and English and shows written instruction alongside picture instruction of how to make a pad by hand or with a sewing machine. This will enable the women to easily teach other communities of women working with the foundation to start their own small businesses.(insert manual front and back)

The materials needed to make these pads are a simple sewing kit and the fabric. The Dare Women's Foundation will provide women with the starting materials needed to launch the businesses and market to a large population of women.

As the women of the communities that already know how to make pads try them out for themselves, they will also be giving samples to other women to allow them to try the pads. We are certain these pads will serve all women of any socio-economic status considering that some of our own team members use them exclusively now!

Already, we have received feedback that these pads work extremely well for the women of Tanzania. They have described them as beautiful and comfortable, and they say they are not ashamed to hand them outside to dry as they normally would. These pads destroy the stigmas that exist around feminine hygiene care, and are paving the way for women to earn respect.